Saito to Boston: We'll always have toe socks

i find it troubling that the sox have signed penny and saito, considering the fact that their organization is so much better than the dodgers. while the sox stockpile veteran arms (add smoltz) in the hope that one or two can still pitch and add depth to an already very good staff, the dodgers lose hoffman to the brew crew and sign estes. whatever. i'll definitely take theo epstein's eye for talent over flanders.

Bye Sammy! A little sad, but he was shot.

I have no problem with dumping Penny, but am ambivalent about Saito.

I wish we could trade Colletti and McCourt for Theo Epstein and John Henry.

The Dodgers are not a legitimate major sports franchise as exhibited in the past few days. The excuse of the changing financial parameters of the game is simply an excuse to say the club no longer is exercising its role as a treasure of the community, a leader of the field and member of the big boys club. Why former Dodgers choose other clubs is that they are winning organizations...Red Sox, Yankees...no matter their role on those clubs they are most likely set for October..>Then again, the Dodgers are....on vacation, checking out the competition and lounging. There is no longer a desire to be the best, the years of relying on the farm system went out when Messersmith signed with the Yanks and the Dodgers have never recovered. They tried (Dave Goltz) but their efforts are weak, just like their ownership and leadership. We've lost already.

As it stands now, our pitching will lose games. We may be able to score runs with Ramirez or Dunn, but they'll come from behind because of our pitching...plain and simple.

Bummer. I really liked Saito. While he was showing his age there at the end, I think he didn't quite get the fairest of shakes given all he'd done or us. So it goes though. Wish him the best of luck in Boston.

Sa yo nara, Sammy-san. Domo arigato for your time in Los Angeles and best of luck in the future!

Let's hope Broxton stayed away from the Paula Deen training table this winter. I'm afraid he'll be serving up those ninth inning home run balls like Paula serves up red velvet cake.

Who needs Saito when we've got SHAWN ESTES!!!!!!!!

He's my new favorite punching back. Say thanks, Juan Pierre. You get a reprieve.

I can't say I'm real excited to come out and see the 2009 Dodgers. And yet season ticket sales are ahead of last year because of the strong showing in the 2008 playoffs. I truly don't get it. Hey fans: Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez aren't on this team. They're going to Su-u-u-uh-uh-uck. You'll be asking for your money back by Memorial Day.

say it ain't so sammy.

you suck flanders!

i don't see why we couldn't resign him. 1 plus a club option isn't an unreasonable deal, especially since we need a closer.

SaMo,

Quite honestly I would take Stults over Estes. Fact is, I would take practically anyone with upside potential over the certaintly of mediocrity that Estes will deliver. There are names currently on the roster and probably some not on the major league roster that could conceivably play a role, but without mentioning names, I'm just talking about potential. So I do agree that the Dodgers need to add a solid veteran arm or two to the mix to hold down the 4th and/or 5th spot in the rotation.

As for Billingsley, I understand the uncertainty of his condition. However, he's young, and should be able to recover from the fracture he suffered. Still, I hope that the Dodgers will take take it slow with him, and not try to rush him back like they did with Gagne in 2006.

As for McDonald, I'm probably in the minority on this site. I have the utmost confidence that he will succeed in any role the Dodgers choose to use him. What I saw at the end of the year and in the playoffs pretty much matched everything I've read about him. Solid low to mid-90's fastball, excellent curve and excellent change. I also liked his poise and mound presence.

As for Kershaw regressing, that is certainly possible. However, I still believe that for the most part the Dodgers are going to sink or swim based on the performance of their young players. If anything, with added maturity and experience, I expect Kershaw to add a tick or two to his fastball, and achieve better command of all his pitches. But yes, he could take a step backward before taking two forward.

I fail to understand why some people on this blog (not you) are upset at the signings of Vargas and Estes. Vargas was signed to a $400K deal with some incentives, and I'm not even sure if it's guaranteed if he fails to make the team out of spring training. Estes was signed to a minor league deal. In both cases, I believe the signings were made with the idea of stockpiling arms that could conceivably open the season at AAA (remember Jason Johnson), and be available in the case of an emergency. They could also open the season in LA (not likely BOTH of them), prove their unworthiness, and be sent packing quickly. A lot of this will depend upon what other moves the Dodgers make between now and opening day, and upon the performance of other players during spring training, or early in the minor league season. If we've learned anything over the last few years, it's that the team that takes the field on opening day may well not resemble the one that finishes the season in September (and hopefully into October).

As for those who have no faith in Broxton, I humbly disagree. He definitely has the stuff, but certainly needs to refine his secondary pitches (slider and splitter). And for those who complain about his control, I offer the following: In 2008 his BB/9 was 2.74, and his K/9 was 10.87. Broxton is still young (25 in June), and it's ludicrous for people to think that he's a finished product with no further chance for growth. Yet there are people on this blog who would prefer the 39 year old Saito, bum elbow and all.

As for Penny and Saito going to Boston, I wish them the best. However, the jury is still out on those moves. And how many bloggers would have complained if the Dodgers re-signed Penny, given his disappearance from the team at the end of the year? And if both pitchers had signed with the Dodgers and ended up being the next coming of Jason Schmidt, how many bloggers (i.e., those with 20-20 hindsight) would have been up in arms. Clearly there would have been attacks on Colletti and Conte.

By the way, as regards Jason Schmidt, I'm not certain that he won't contribute this year (mind you, I'm not giddy about this). From the reports I've read, the surgery he had last year to clean out scar tissue from the previous years surgery was a success, and that during the procedure the doctor determined that his labrum was completely healed. I understand he's currently throwing without discomfort, and that his velocity has increased. It's probably a pipe dream, but it's possible he may contribute this year, be it in the rotation or out of the pen.

OK, I'm rambling, so best I stop right here.